Rowing!

Jayco141
Jayco141 Posts: 221 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I stopped going to the gym and recently purchased a very nice rower(Ergatta). Very interactive etc, even has racing. How do you feel about the workout you can get from rowing?

Replies

  • BahstenB10
    BahstenB10 Posts: 227 Member
    edited September 2020
    Jayco141 wrote: »
    So I stopped going to the gym and recently purchased a very nice rower(Ergatta). Very interactive etc, even has racing. How do you feel about the workout you can get from rowing?

    Kicks my *kitten* every time. A rower is one of my favorite pieces of equipment to use. Talk about full body workout.
  • Onedaywriter
    Onedaywriter Posts: 326 Member
    I think you’ll enjoy this!!
    As far as indoor cardio, rowing is my favorite. I don’t have a rower at home but use it at the gym. I do really feel like it is full body- most other indoor cardio stuff seems to work legs more.

    Second the motion in Dark Horse rowing!! Great info there.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,204 Member
    Can be a very good workout, but it's a little bit technical: Not as intuitive to do as something like treadmill or bike.

    With sub-ideal technique, it becomes harder to get a good workout. WIth the good rowing machines, the ones trying to somewhat simulate an on-water rowing experience, the machine doesn't create resistance, good technique does, in essence.

    Most people I see at the gym are not getting the best workout, frankly, and even quite a few trainers don't know correct technique, unfortunately. I see people risking back injuries, setting the damper (on a Concept 2) too high thinking it's resistance (it isn't), trying to get a good workout by whipping up and down the slide at high strokes per minute. A competent rower can get an excellent workout (in terms of cardiovascular challenge) at spm < 20 (not that I'm saying every workout should be at that spm!).

    Mostly, I use the rowing machine (C2 at home) in the off-season, though thi year the rowing club was closed for a while because of the pandemic, so I've done more erging this summer that I ever have before in good weather. (The main problem with the rowing machine, in my world, is that it isn't a boat. 😆 But many people are very happy doing machine only, and it certainly can provide a good workout. )

    I don't know what instructional material or individual trainer attention Ergatta has available, but I'd recommend focusing on good technique in the early stages of use, rather than immediately trying for intensity. Because the body mechanics are a little subtle, it's good to take a little time, and start out with proper mechanics in muscle memory. It's easier to develop good technique up front, vs. trying to undo sub-ideal habits at a later point. That's easier to do at lower spm at first.

    Hope you enjoy your machine!
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,204 Member
    As an aside, one caution: Be aware that rowing is all lower body push, upper body pull. If one does a lot of it, over a long period of years, it's a good plan to incorporate some other exercise that balances out the muscle groups. (IME, most on-water rowers who pay attention to this would use strength training routines for injury avoidance in this respect, as well as to develop more power.)
  • Dogmom1978
    Dogmom1978 Posts: 1,580 Member
    I recently purchased a used C2 model B with a PM1 and it kicks my butt. I do strength training 4 days a week and cardio 5-6. The only other piece of cardio that comes close to destroying me like my C2 is my summit trainer. That thing is brutal on my legs!
  • Jayco141
    Jayco141 Posts: 221 Member
    10M Meters, Congrats!! I definitely need help in form, thank you so much.

    MikePfirrman wrote: »
    Looks interesting. It looks to be a WaterRower with a built in computer and interactive apps, similar to some things that you can do with a C2.

    Rowing workouts are great. Just work, work, work on form. I've rowed around 6 years now on a C2. I love it. I'll hit 10M meters this year (soon).

    Use a plan as a beginner and soak up anything you can read about form. Dark Horse Rowing has some great videos out.

    She is also awesome as well. She's a Master instructor for Concept2 and teaches most of their certification classes. There's some famous OTW (over the water) rowers that have also created an app as well. I forget the name but I'll try to find out and let you know.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=54&v=zyn58cEhIi8&feature=emb_title

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